gombeen
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of gombeen
1860–65; < Irish gaimbín interest, especially exorbitant interest, literally, bit, small piece, diminutive of gamba lump, hunk
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the gombeen man presented him with a bill for twenty-one shillings and three pence.
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Ruth Russell
This help from the banks is so far good that it has relieved the decent peasant from his ancient bloodsucker, the gombeen man.
From Disturbed Ireland Being the Letters Written During the Winter of 1880-81. by Bernard H. Becker
"There's a hole in your pocket, Capt'n; stop it up with your fist, man," said Liza—she was a gombeen woman, and when she got a penny in her hand it was a prisoner for life.
From The Manxman A Novel - 1895 by Sir Hall Caine
He said: "It used to belong to the gombeen man."
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Ruth Russell
Dungloe men wanted to fish, but the gombeen man would never lend money to promote industry.
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Ruth Russell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
